August 10, 2005
Contact: Sue Baker
For Immediate Release
Warwick continues to lead state in recycling efforts
WARWICK – Mayor Scott Avedisian announced that the city is once again the state’s recycling leader, receiving a check this morning for over $116,000 from the Rhode Island Resource Recovery Corporation for its efforts.
The corporation distributed funds to those municipalities that achieved a 20 percent participation rate in the maximum recycling program. Warwick’s portion of the proceeds from FY04 was the largest amount given to any community in the state and reflected the city’s 25 percent recycling rate, Avedisian said.
The city’s automated trash collection system greatly contributed to the city’s success, he said.
The city became the first municipality in Rhode Island to switch to an automated system, implementing Phase I of the program in August 2003. Before long, the Department of Public Works’ Recycling and Sanitation Division saw a significant increase in the amount of items being recycled, Avedisian said. Between August 2003 and March 2004 the amount of recyclables collected had increased by 230 tons from the August 2002-March 2003 time frame.
This spring, the city implemented Phase III of the program, bringing roughly half of all households into the system. Next April, Phase IV will be underway, adding the remaining 15,000 households and completing the city’s conversion from manual to automated collection approximately a year earlier than had originally been expected.
The automated system, which has proven very popular with residents, is meant to reduce costs related to on-the-job injuries and to provide for neater and more efficient trash collection, Avedisian said, noting that over $500,000 in grants from RIRRC since the program’s inception has been instrumental in offsetting costs and adding to the success of the program.
The City of Warwick began recycling in 1987 and from the program’s inception has been a leader in the state. In 1995, Warwick took the lead role in Rhode Island, adding all paper products and cardboard to the list of accepted recyclables – before it was mandated by the state.
A $15,000 grant from the corporation in 2001 helped the city develop a comprehensive recycling and sanitation website. The address is: www.warwickri.gov/sanitation.htm